And playing catch-up is hampered when you're giving away extra free throws, with Sloan and Fisher whistled for a pair of technicals each in the final period.

Kirilenko credited the Spurs for their aggressive attack. "They go after the ball and get a foul and get to the free-throw line," he said. "They didn't really execute their offense — they get to the free-throw line and they make layups."

While he credited his team for its competitive effort throughout Game 4, Sloan said he hopes his players have learned from the fourth-quarter challenges.

"I think that's what they've got to learn every time they step on the floor" Sloan said, "is obviously you need to learn how to stick with what you are trying to do and not have the turnovers and not have the fouls that put them on the free-throw line, regardless of circumstances."

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